Surgical brace and pivotal joint therefor



C. L. INVIDIATO SURGICAL BRACE AND PIVOTAL JOINT THEREFOR Filed Nov. 22,1949 June 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR (05070 L. Avwomro W440i? IATTORNEY June 19, 1951' c. lNVlDlATO SURGICAL BRACE AND PIVOTAL JOINTTHEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 22, 1949 INVENTOR (05440 Z. Amp/470Mud/mu ATTORNEY Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OF F I CESURGICAL BRACE AND PIVOTAL JOINT THEREFOR Cosmo L. Invidiato, Paterson,N. J.

Application November. 22, 1949,.Serial No: 128,879"

4 Claims.-

This inventionrelatestoa joint between twopivotally" connected members;such joint allowing freedom of 'pivotal movement between the membersover a selected angular range, and means to stop" and lock themembers inaselected angular relationship to each other;

More particularly-tho invention relates to a joint for a surgical brace,whereby the parts of the brace so joined have freedom of pivotalmovementover a selected angular range and may be locked in selected adjustableangular relationship to each other; the invention further relates to asurgical brace incorporating such joint.

In the-illustrative preferred embodiment the joint is shown incorporatedin a surgical brace for the leg'of a patient: Such brace is designed forpatients sufiering, for example, from arthritis so that the knee of theleg to which the brace isapplied haslimited angular freedom of motion;With such patients it is necessary to brace-the knee in its-outwardlyextended position, as when the patient is walking, butit isalso' desiredto allowztheknee to bend as when the patient is sitting down. The jointof the invention is, therefore," designed to allow freedom' of pivotalmovement between the parts of the brace to which the joint is attachedover" a selected angular'range, andto lock such mem bers together at asuitably predetermined end pointof such range. The joint is furtherdesigned so that the end point at'whichthe members are locked maybe'easily and. quickly adjusted.

It is therefore among the objects of the in- VBHtiOIlT to provide ajoint for use between two pivotally joined members, the joint includingmeans to allow free pivoting of the members over a selected angularrangeand to lock the members. against further pivotal movement atanadjustable end point. of the range.

The; invention has as a further object theprovision of a' joint of the:above indicated type which is; of rugged; simple; construction and whichis easily adjusted to changethe end point embodiment, asbeing-.incorporated in. a surgical brace, specificailya:braceefor alegg- It is -t"be understood, however, that the jointand the brace,within the broader aspects of, the invention, may. be such asto beapplied to, any part or partsof the bodywhich have pivotal movement withrespect to.each other.

joint is not restrictedin itszuse to such incorporation in asurgical'brace, being of advantage in other. applicationsv where twomembers are pivotally. mounted on;,each other. wherein freedom of'pivotal .movementover aselected range and stopping andilockingoflthemembers with respect to eachother, at anend pointof such range; aredesired.

In the .drawings accompanying the specification and forming a partthereof:

Fig. l is a view in sideelevation of asurgical brace for aleg, suchbrace. incorporating the joint of the invention,.the leg: and bracebeing shown in extended position;

Fig. Zisaview in side elevationofv such brace.

and leg, the leg,being flexed;

Fig; 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of; the bracein thevicinityi of the joint of the invention;

Fig. 4 is an. exploded view in perspective of thejoint of the invention;

Fig. 5 is'a view in crosssection through such pivoted ,joint, thesection being taken along: the 1ine'55;in Fig, 3.; and

Fig. 61s a view in rear elevation of. the king memberof 1thepivotaljoint.

In Figs..1 andizlbutl one,side ofthe. brace ofthe invention is shown,there being arlower memher 2 and an upper member 8.. pivotallyconnected...bygthe joint Ill. The lower member 2 parallels the lowerpartof the leg-.of the patient and the uppermember. Sparal-lels thethigh portion of such 1eg.. It is to: be understood that similar upper.and lower brace members are disposed. onthe. other. side of the patientsleg in .a similar relationship, inthe brace'described ajoint coaxialwith joint Ill being-employed. In

such brace, however, the joint at the other side' of the. braceislof asimple pivot type;- no locking means being employed.

The braceis'provided" with a lower, stirruplike, part 4 which extends,as shown, beneath the instep-of the-shoe of'the patient. The'upstandingside arms of portion 4: are pivotally connected to the bottom ends ofthe lower brace members, one suchconnection betweenpart 4 and the lowerend of part2 being shown at 6. The brace is further provided with acustomary binding I2 ,for the calf of the patient, and with aconventional binding M for thelower thigh of the patient.

Pivotal joint I0" between members 2 and 8 is more particularly-shown inFigs. 3-6, inclusive. As shown in Fig. 4, the bottom end of "upperbraceFurthermore,- within the broader. scopeof theinvention, the

member 8 is provided with a bore I6 therethrough extending at rightangles to the broad surfaces of such member. Pivotally mounted uponmember 8 is the intermediate lock providing member I8, the fiat surface22 thereof being mounted in contact with the broad surface of member 8shown facing the reader in Fig. 4. Member I8 is provided, as shown inFig. 6, eccentrically thereof with a boss 20 extending at right anglesto the surface 22, boss 20 having an external diameter such as to fitsnugly within the bore I6. Member I8 is thus freely pivotable uponmember 8, and is retained thereon by means of the screw 24 which isthreaded into the internally threaded boss 20 of member I8. Boss 20 isof such length that its outer surface 26 lies substantially flush withthe right-hand surface of member 8, as the joint is shown in Fig. 5.

The periphery of member I8 is circular cylindrical in shape.Diametrically opposed from the boss 20 and radially directed withrespect to member I8 is the radial slot 38 extending inwardly from theperiphery of the member I8. Slot 30 is designed to receive the nose ofthe selectively retractible stop pin member 32 which is slidably mountedupon member 8 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The side of slot 38 at theright in Fig. 4 may be considered as a stop shoulder preventing furthermovement toward an extended position of the parts 2 and 8 of the bracewhen such shoulder is engaged by pin 32.

A hollow elongated casing 34 is secured to the outer face of member 8 bymeans of the strap members 36 attached to member 8. Retractible pin 32slides vertically within the lower end of casing 34. The upper end ofsuch casing is internally threaded, there being an adjustable abutment38 threadedly received within the upper end of such casing. Disposedbetween the upper end of pin 32 and the lower end of abutment 38 is thecompression coil spring 40, which is disposed within casing 34. Aflexible cable 42 is secured at its lower end to the upper end of thepin 32. Cable 42 extends to the outer end of the short arm 44 of the pinoperating bell-crank lever as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. Thebellcrank lever is pivotally secured to the outer face of member 8 bymeans of the pivot pin 46. The longer operating arm of the bell-cranklever is designated 48.

It will be apparent that by turning the bell crank lever clockwise, asit is shown in Fig. 3, the slack in the cable 42 may be taken up, afterwhich the pin 32 is retracted from the slot 30, thereby allowing memberI8 to rotate freely clockwise (as it is shown in Fig. 4) with respect topin 32, the nose of the pin when the latter is released riding upon theperipheral surface 28 of member I8 at the left of the slot member I8 isshown in Fig. 4. A generally radially directed pin 50 providing a stopshoulder is provided on the periphery of member I8 somewhat to the rightof slot 30, as the device is shown in Fig. 4, to prevent member I8 fromturning appreciably counter-clockwise past the point at which pin 32would engage in slot 38, even though pin 32 is retracted from member I8.

The broad surface of member I8 opposite from the above described surface22 is designated 52. Rising from surface 52 coaxial with boss 20, and ofthe same diameter of such boss, is the oppositely directed boss 54. Boss54'is, as shown, hollow and internally threaded. Surrounding boss 54 isa raised circular portion 56 which is radially serrated.

Means are provided on member 2 to cooperate with the serrated portion 56on part I8 whereby selectively to hold part I8 in a predeterminedangular relationship with respect to member 2. Such last described meanstakes the form of a member 58 which is fixedly secured to as by being.drivingly inserted in the end of member 2 at the joint in confrontingrelationship to the part 56 of member I8. As shown more clearly in Fig.5, member 58 is provided with a flange 60, such flange fitting within acounter-bore portion in member 2. part 56 is of a similar diameter andis similarly radially serrated, whereby the parts I8 and 58 may beselectively locked in predetermined angular relationship. The stemportion of part 58, which fits within the hole in member 2, as shownmore clearly in Fig. 5, is provided with a hole 64' therethrough, suchhole snugly receiving the boss 54 as shown. Member I8 is held againstpart 58, so that the respective serrated portions thereof interengage,by means of the screw 66 which is threadedly received within thethreaded opening in boss 54.

It is believed that, from the above, the manner of operation of thejoint of the invention and the mode of its adjustment will be apparent.However, such matters will be briefly summarized here for the sake ofclarity. When the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 5, parts I8 and58 are locked with respect to member 2 and move with it as such memberis moved angularly with respect to member 8, pivotal movement betweenparts 2 and 8 taking place between the bore I6 and the boss 2!],assuming that the member I8 is in such angular position that pin 32 isnot engaged in slot 38. When pivotal movement between members 2 and 8 iscontinued to the end of the range to which the joint is set, the nose ofpin 32 drops into slot 30 on member I8, thereby preventing furtherangular movement between parts 2 and 8. This is the relationship of theparts in the brace as it is shown in Fig. 1, and is the position atwhich the brace will be set by the attending physician whereby itapproximates the maximum extension possible in the knee of the afflictedleg.

If it is desired to change such locked angular relationship of parts 2and 8, it is necessary only to loosen screw 66, located on the exteriorof the brace, to an amount sufficient to allow the peaks of theserrations on parts 56 and 58 to clear each other. The member I8 is thenturned to a position such that parts 2 and 8 will have the desiredangular relationship to each other when pin 32 is engaged in slot 30.Thereupon screw 66 is tightened to lock member I8 in such angularrelationship with respect to member 2. The leg will thus be in thedesired angular extension when the joint is locked.

When the patient desires to bend his leg, as when he sits down, it isnecessary only for him to rotate the bell-crank lever clockwise, as itis shown in Fig. 3, to retract pin 32 from the slot 30, whereby thelower part of the brace may be turned to a position relative to theupper part thereof such as shown in Fig. 2.

The joint of the invention is simple, rugged and easily adjusted.Furthermore, it is of such construction that it ma readily be adjustedas to the terminal angular position at which it looks while it is worn,thus not necessitating repeated removals and reapplications of the bracefrom the afflicted member of the body.

Whereas for purposes of illustration I have The face of member 58confronting shown. and? described the: pivotal ?jo1nt;ofi"the*in.--vention and thesurgical braceincorporatirrg such joint inpreferredembodiments.thereof; it iSawtO beunderstood :that theinvention,as-above -indicated, may be markedlyvaried as? to:- construction andasto itsmanner. of application.. The invention is; therefore, defined bythe scopeof the claims appended hereto:

I claim as new thefollowing:

1. A surgicalbrace comprising: a-first brace member adaptedto-be"securedito'a first part ofrajointed member of the human body; .a'second brace member adapted: to be securedtora second part of the:jointed member: ofethe'vhumannbody; anda: pivotal joint; betweenthel'first' andisecond members of the-brace,- saidpivot'al;joint'compris-= ing afirst element connected-to.thewfirst -memberl adjacent one end thereof, saidfirst element having, an engaging,faceportion:lying=. parallel to. the inner' face of i the "first member;.a': second, locking, element in-theformpf :a -general1y:cylin-= drical"disc interposed betweenetheifirstiand sec; ond membersand-pivotallyconnected :to the seci end-member, said second,-locking;.elem'entxhavifig an engaging face on a first side facethereofysaid: last named engaging-facetbeing complementary to and incontact with the engaging face on the first element,interrengaging meanson the two such, engaging faces to holds-themin auselected angularposition, releasable means-l to-holdthe said engaging faces in contact.andQlto. afiix the second, locking; element 'to'thefirst brace member,a-llocking pin slidablyc'mounted on th'exsec: and member: of the braceirr confrontingrelation with the, periphery QLthefloJckingsmember;ameansurging; said .pin into contactwwithithe periphery of the locking member,one of the elements of the group consisting of the periphery of thelocking member and the locking pin having a slot in the surface thereofconfronting the other member of the group and the other member having aprojection adapted to fit within the slot, and means to retract the pinfrom the slot and the periphery of the locking member.

2. A surgical brace comprising a first brace member adapted to besecured to a first part of a jointed member of the human body, a secondbrace member adapted to be secured to a second part of the jointedmember of the human body, and a pivotal joint between the first andsecond members of the brace, said pivotal connection comprising a firstelement on the first member adjacent one end thereof, said first elementhaving a face portion lying parallel to the inner face of the firstmember, said face being serrated, a second, locking, element in the formof a disc interposed between the first and second members, said second,locking, element having a serrated face on a first side face thereof,said last named serrated face being complementary to and in contact withthe serrated face on the first element, releasable means to hold thesaid serrated faces in contact and to aflix the second, locking, elementto the first brace member, the locking element having a radial slottherein from the periphery thereof, means on the brace for pivotallyattaching the second member of the brace to the locking element so thatthe second face of the locking member lies parallel to and generally incontact with the second member of the brace, a locking pin slidablymounted on the second member of the brace in confronting relation withthe slotted periphery of the locking member, means on the brace urgingsaid pin into contact with the periphery of the lockingmemberandiintothe slot therein .whenthelattemcone frontsz-the pin; andmeans OILLthBYTblBiOE: tmrer-i tract thEDlIIIfIOmlhGSIOI andtheiperipheryrof the'locking member;

3. A surgical brace comprising, a firstelonigatedbrace member adapted tobe secured toica first part of a jointed member of the? human body, ,a 1second elongated brace member adapted: to be'secured to a second partofithef jointed: member of the human body;. and a: pivotal joint betweenthe first and second members." ofithe' brace, the 'firstmemberihaving abore'througl'r iti extendin generally normalto thelen'gthof 'such' firstmember and positionedi adjacent. the end thereof. at the joint, thersecondmember. havingai bore. through; it extending generally normal to!thelength ofsuch second member and. positioned adjacent the endthereofr'atithe'joint, saidipivot'al' connection comprising a firstelement in: the form of a disc .havinga boss on one faceth'ereof, the"boss having an axial borei therein, the boss" fitting, within theborerin the firstmember, said. first element" being fixedly, secured tothe. firstt member the front face of. the" disc ofthefirst' elementlying outwardly of an'diparallel to thereleasable-means? to"holdithe'i'saidiserratedfifacesi in contact andto'affiythe second,locking; elecmcnt to the first brace member, said last named meanscomprising a first boss on the first, serrated, side face on the second,locking, element, said boss projecting from and disposed normal to saidfirst face of the second element, said first boss fitting accuratelywithin the bore in the boss of the first element, the first boss on thesecond, locking, element having a threaded bore therein, and a headedstud screwed into said last named bore, the locking element having aradial slot therein from the periphery thereof, means for pivotallyattaching the second member of the brace to the locking member so thatthe second face of the locking member lies parallel to and generally incontact with the second member of the brace, said last named meanscomprising a second boss on the second side face of the second, locking,element, said second boss projecting from and disposed normal to saidsecond face, said second boss accurately fitting within the bore in theend of the second brace member, and means securing the second, locking,element to the second member, a locking pin slidably mounted on thesecond member of the brace in confronting relation with the slottedperiphery of the locking member, means on the brace constantly urgingsaid pin into contact with the periphery of the locking member and intothe slot therein when the latter confronts the pin, and means on thebrace to retract the pin from the slot and the periphery of the lockingmember.

4. A surgical brace comprising a first elongated brace member adapted tobe secured to a first part of a jointed member of the human body, asecond elongated brace member adapted to be secured to a second part ofthe jointed member of the human body, and a pivotal joint between thefirst and second members of the brace; the first member having a borethrough it and a counterbore thereabout extending generally normal tothe length of such first mem= her and positioned adjacentthe end thereofat the joint, the second member having a bore through it extendinggenerally normal to the length of such second member and positionedadjacent the end thereof at the joint, said pivotal connectioncomprising a first element in the form of a disc having a boss on oneface thereof, the boss having an axial bore therein, the boss fittingwithin the bore in the first member and the disc fitting with the rearportion thereof within the counterbore, said first element being fixedlysecured to the first member, the front face of the disc of the first,element lying outwardly of and parallel to the inner face of the firstmember, said front face of the disc being radially serrated, a second,locking, element in the form of a generally cylindrical disc interposedbetween the first and second brace members, said second, locking,element having a round, radially serrated, face on a first side facethereof, said last named round, serrated, face being complementary toand in contact with serrated face of the first element, releasable meansto hold the said serrated faces in contact and to afiix the second,locking, element to the first brace member, said last named meanscomprising a first boss on the first, serrated, side face on the second,locking, element, said boss projecting from and disposed normal to saidfirst face of the second element, said first boss fitting accuratelywithin the bore in the boss of the first element, the first boss on thesecond, locking, element having a threaded bore therein,

8 and a headed stud screwed into said last named bore, the lockingelement having a radial slot therein from the periphery thereof, meansfor pivotally attaching the second member of the brace to the lockingmember so that the second face of the locking member lies parallel toand generally in contact with the second member of the brace, said lastnamed means comprising a second boss on the second side face of thesecand, locking, element, said second boss projecting from and disposednormal to said second face. said second boss accurately fitting withinthe bore in the end of the second brace member, the second boss on thesecond, locking, member having a threaded bore therein, and a headedstud screwed into said last named bore, a locking pin slidably mountedon the second member of the bracein confronting relation with theslotted periphery of the locking member, means on the brace constantlyurging said pin into contact with the periphery of the locking memberand into the slot therein when the latter confronts.

the pin, and means on the brace to retract the pin from the slot and theperiphery of the locking member.

COSMO L. INVIDIATO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the CameronJune 6, 1922

